Fluid coupling



FLUID coUPLING Filed April 19, 1,937

Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,182,394 l FLUm coUPLiNc.

tion of Delaware Application April 19, 1937, SerialgNo. 137,701

6 Claims.

This invention relates to uid couplings and drives employing fluid couplings for propelling motor vehicles or for other power transmission.

Heretofore in motor vehicles power transmission systems employing fluid couplingsVdiflicul'ty has been experienced by reason of a tendency of .the vehicle to creep or drive slowly when the engine is idling and the transmission is in gear. In other words, it has been found necessary in bringing the vehicle to rest, to manipulate the transmission into neutral or apply the usual brakes .to oppose the drive or drag transmitted through the fluid coupling at engine idling speed. One object of my invention is to materially reduce the aforesaid difficulties by the provision of a" comparatively large capacity expansion chamber included within the uid coupling as a unitary part thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved fluid coupling having a kfluid expansion chamber of relatively great capacity carried by the coupling runner, or driven member, and which is so constructed and arranged as to preserve the compactness of the coupling assembly and maintain a comparatively small overall length thereof.

By lso providing a uid coupling having its fluid expansion chamber fixed to the coupling runner, or fixed to the coupling impeller if desired, and constituting a permanent part of the uid coupling, balancing operations on the coupling are facilitated, inasmuch as the rotative part of the coupling can be satisfactorily balanced as a unit and the coupling then installed in a motor vehicle or other power transmitting mechanism without further balancing even though the coupling be subsequently removed from said vehicle for any reason.

A still further object of my invention resides in a novel and inexpensive means for satisfactorily balancing a fluid coupling, preferably after the fluid has been added, and permanently maintaining the coupling in balance indefinitely, without disassembling any xed part of the fluid coupling to make this adjustment.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a central, vertical, sectional view of a fluid coupling embodying the invention.

Fig, 2 is a fragmentary detail, sectional view taken approximately as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

'bolts I0, the impeller or driving memberA II of the fluid coupling. v 10 The driven shaft I2 of the coupling corresponds to the driving shaftfwhich` ordinarily connects the clutch of a vehicle to the transmission mechanism thereof. A runner or driven member I3 is non-rotatably mounted on the shaft I2. 15

In the impeller II and runner I3 are companion vane-forming chambers I4 around the annular vortex chamber vorspace I5 so that as the impeller rotates, the fluid will be thrown outwardly and toward the chambers I4 of the run- 20 ner I3, inducing rotation of the latter as is generally well-known in the art.

Any suitable means may be used to connect the outer cover plate IIS with the impeller member II, but I prefer to illustrate my invention 25 with the threaded fastener of Fig. 1. 'Ihe outer cover plate -I6 is provided With a forwardly extending annular fiange I'I bent outwardly at I8 into contact with the rear peripheral face of an` L-shaped groove I9 formed by a flange 20 of the impeller member II. Fitting in the angular pocket provided by the flange I8 and the forwardly extending portion I1 is a flange 2| of a threaded collar 22. In assembling the outer cover plate I 6 to the impeller II eitler the collar 35 22 or impeller II is rotated to place the `collars threaded portion in leak-proof engagement with external threads 23 formed on flange 20, the outwardly extending portion I8 being tightly lockedbetween the L-shaped groove I9 and flange 2l. 40 A rearwardly extending hollow sleeve 24, if desired, may surround the driven shaft I2 for rotation independently thereof. The rearward portion of sleeve 24 carries an external gear 25 45- lwhereby a suitable pressure pump (not shown.)

30, this sleeve suitably rotatably journalling, as

by a ballbearing 3|, the closely tting flange 32 of an extension support member 33 flxed to plate I6 by the bolts 21. A suitable external threadl 34, preferably of a coarse thread, formed on the forward portion of the driven sleeve 30 provides a forward stop for bearing 3| while a locke ring 35 carried by sleeve 38 aiords a rearward stop therefor. Fore and aft movement of the sleeve 38 and bearing 3| are respectively prewardly of bearing 3|,

-Ill

vented by the closely tting flange 32 and a forward projection 36 of flange 26.

It is desirable to preventv fluid leakage along sleeve 30,'as will hereinafter bev more apparent, andfto this end I desire to illustrate in connection with my invention a -fluid sealing fac'e member,31closely surrounding sleeve 30 just rearlA resilientskirt member 38 is interposed between the face member 31 and projection 36 to maintain a leakproof condition therein for preventing the rearward passage of fluid. A yielding means, such as a coil-spring 39, surrounds the sleeve and bears between a shoulder 48 on the sleeve 24 and the sealing member 31 for yieldingly urgingfthe sealing members 31 and 38 against the bearing 3|. A suitable uid coupling casing 4I houses the coupling members and is preferably connected by bolts 42 to a backing member 43 and motor block 6.

An internally threaded extension 44 of the runner I3 is adapted yto be drivingly connected with the external thread 34 vof' the sleeve 30 to transmit the drive from the runner to the driven shaft I2.

, An annular dished plate'45 is suitably supported by a peened-over circumferentially extending projection 46 of runner I3 and forms 'the rear wall of -a iluid expansion chamber 41,` an annular opening 48 of plate 45 providing communication with the chamber 41 .and the 'exterior of runner I3. l

In order to provide adequate communication between chamber 41 and vortex. chamber I5, I prefer to include a plurality of fluid-transmitting`.passa'ges 49 circumferentially arranged and positioned between the innermost portion of the inner vortex member 50 and the innermost portion of the outer vortex member 5| of runner I3 for purposes as will presently be apparent. r

To assist in providing additional communication between chambers I5 and 41 I prefer to .use fluid transmitting passages 52 of greater capacity than passages 49, the passages 52 being. circumferentially arranged in the runner I3 and having one end adjacent the edge of the dished plate 45. It is obviously evident that when fluid is in the expansion chamber 41 and the driving shaft 5 rotates vwith suilicient speed, the oil ls thrown outwardly by centrifugal force through passages 49 and 52 to chamber I5 where it passes through a spaced clearance 53 between the adjacent faces of the inner vortex members 58 and 54 of the runner and impeller respectively to loinv the fluid flow in the van'e forming chambers I4. When the amount of fluid in expansion chamber 41 is sufficient upon rotational movement of the driving shaft 5 to be thrown outwardlyA to form a iluid level labove that indicated at 55, the fluid will be quickly transferred through passages 49 and 52 to chamber I5. However when the amount of uid in expansion chamber 41 is only sufficient to form a level below the level 55, the fluid transfer is effected entirely through passa'res 49.

I prefer to illustrate a baille plate in my 'uld coupling, and to this end I havel provided an 81nnular plate 56 suitably fixed to the runner I3 as by screws 51. The baille plate 56 is thus adapted to project into the innermost portion of the vane forming chambers I4and to break up or disturb the flow or eddies of the iluid in chambers I4 to effect free slippage of the coupling during low speed operation of the driving shaft 5. l

The :fluid capacity of the expansion chamber 41 of my novel fluid` coupling may be increased materially, if desired, by a dished forward plate 56- having a flange 59 ilush withbaflle plate 56 and with its edge turned over the periphery of the plate 56.. .A forwardly extending portion 60 `of impeller II provides a space for accommodatingvthe auxiliary expansion chamber 6I within the coupling. Communication between chambers 41 and v6I is provided by a series of circumferentially, arranged ports 62 formed in'the central web portion of the runner I3, the ports preferably being positioned adjacent the periphery of plate 58 so that during rotation thereof any'flliid in auxiliary chamber 6I will be transferred to chamber 41.-

Normally it is 'desirable to fill my fluid coupling with iluid to about three-fourths of its' capacity, the fluid medium being' oil, water, or other suitable fluid. When driving shaft 5 is stationary, the chambers 41 and 6I, as well as a portion of passages 49 and 52, are filled with fluid. As the driving shaft is rotated with increasing speed the centrifugal force on the iluid becomes greater and greater and thus forces the fluid outwardly in its well-known travel in the vane forming chambers. I4, the chambers 41 and 6I quickly being unloaded through passages 49V and 52 as described. v l

In other words, the impeller II will rotate'with the driving flywheel 8 to cause the fluid to circulate under the action of centrifugal force from space 63 outwardly through the impeller vane passages for discharge at the space 64 where the fluid enters the runner vane passages for discharge at the space 63. Therunner is thus driven from the impeller and the slip between the parts rapidly diminishes as the speed of the impeller increases.A Any ofthe fluid leaking to the outside of the runner I3 tends to return to chamber'41 through opening A48 of plate'45.

Thus it will be evident that when vthe driving shaft 5 is being driven at engine idling speed,a

great volume of the fluid in the coupling will requently effect greater slippage between the im-4 peller and the runner. This action, assisted by the function of the baille plate 56, makes it unnecessary to manipulate a transmission into neutrai, or to apply the -brakes of a motorvehicle vin order to holdy the latter atrest.

It is' readily apparent that my improved Afluid I l-coupling utilizes in a novel and inexpensive manner, all available space within the coupling as an adequate expansion chamber and yet a very compact coupling assembly is obtained having a comparatively small over-all length. The provi- "sion of an expansion chamber of large capacity in a coupling permits heated air and iluid to cirl culate and guards against bursting of the coupling when operating .under severe driving conditions.

Referring now to my novel and4 inexpensive means for balancing the fluid coupling, a plurality of circumferentially arranged threaded plugs G9 are adapted to be adjustably positioned V within the threaded holes 65.

The assembled fluid coupling may be lled with fluid to the desired level through the ller holes 68, and then balanced by adjusting the plugs 69 individually ',from Joutside the cover plate I6 through the ller holes 58. When the coupling is satisfactorily balanced, the threads of holes 65 may be peened over, if desired, to maintain the coupling in balance indefinitely by locking the plugs 69 in their proper positions. v

Hence, it is evident that my uid coupling, with its self-contained adequate expansion chamber therein and its means for easily balancing and vmaintaining the balance, can be manufactured as a unit and then balanced but once for the life of thecoupling. The balanced coupling can then be installed conveniently in a motor Vehicle or other power transmitting system without further balancing even though the coupling v portion substantially enveloping said runner rotor structure, and provided with a fluid medium lling opening, a closure for said opening, and an adjustable member carried by said runner rotor structure and accessible through said opening from the exterior of said housing portion for balancing said runner rotor structure.

2. A uid coupling including driving and driven members, a. runner rotor structure secured to said driven membenan impeller rotor structure secured to said driving member having a housing portion substantially enveloping said runner rotor structure, and provided with a uid medium lling opening, a closure for said opening, and a plurality of adjustable members circumferentially spaced about said runner rotor structure each registerable with and accessible through said opening for balancing said runner rotor structure.

3. A uid coupling including driving and driven members, a runner rotor structure secured to said driven member having acircumferentially spaced threaded openings therein, an impeller rotorstructure secured to said vdriving member having a housing portion substantially enveloping said runner rotorl structure and provided with a uid filling opening with which said threaded openings are registerable, and a balancingmemberlthreaded in each threaded opening and accessble through said fluid lling opening for balancing said runner rotor structure.

4. In a uid coupling including a rotatable impeller element and a rotatable runner element, said elements cooperating to form a fluid circuit Working chamber, means including a bale member carried by one of said elements and extending into said chamber for interrupting the iiuid circuit therein, and a uid expansion chamber forming member supported from said baille member, saidI chambers being in fluid communication.

5. A uid coupling including a rotatable driving and a rotatable driven member, said members having walls cooperating to form' a uid operating circuit, a core ring in said circuit providing an annular fluid chamber, a fluid reservoir rotatably connected to one of said members, and a plurality of fluid passageways carried by said last named member and communicating with said core ring and said reservoir, each of said passages being adapted to accommodate the ow of fluid operating medium to and from the chamber and core ring respectively, said last named member having openings in the wall thereof for accommodating the ow of uid between a respective.

passageway and said\reservoir, at least one of working chamber, means carried by one of said structures for providing a fluid expansion chamber, said last mentioned structure having means including openings in the Wall thereof for accommodating the flow of the fluid operating medium between said chambers, one of said openings being located a greater radial distance from the axis of said coupling than the other of said openin s. ROY T. BUCY. 

